Liquid container with integrated straw

ABSTRACT

A liquid container having a tubular wall or handle formed integral with the peripheral wall of the container body thereof and a suction hole defined in the tubular wall or handle in communication with the holding space surrounded by the container body so that the user can drink the liquid from the container body with the mouth through the suction hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to liquid containers and more particularlyto such a liquid container, which has a straw formed integral with theperipheral wall or handle of the container body so that the user candrink or suck in the contained liquid.

2. Description of the Related Art

When drinking a liquid from a liquid container, for example, cup 11 a,as shown in FIG. 1, the user may attach the mouth to the topmost edge 10a of the cup 11 a and drink the liquid. Alternatively, the user may usea straw 12 a to suck in the liquid from the cup 11 a. Regular straws forthis purpose are commonly prepared from plastics. Improperly disposingoff waste straws will cause environmental pollution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a liquid container, which has a straw formed integral with theperipheral wall or handle of the container body so that the user candrink or suck in the contained liquid.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, A liquidcontainer, comprising a container body formed of a peripheral wall and abottom wall, a tubular wall formed integral with the peripheral wall, asuction hole defined in between the tubular wall and the peripheralwall, the suction hole having a top end extending to the topmost edge ofthe cup body and a bottom end extending to the bottom wall of thecontainer body, and a water inlet in communication between the suctionhole and the holding space surrounded by the container body. Thus, thetubular wall works as a straw for enabling the user to suck in thecontained liquid from the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional cup used with a straw.

FIG. 2 is an oblique elevation of a liquid container in accordance witha first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the liquid container in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a liquid container in accordance with a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is an oblique elevation of a liquid container in accordance witha sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an oblique elevation of a liquid container in accordance witha seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the liquid container shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an oblique elevation of a liquid container in accordance withan eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with aninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with atenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a liquid container in accordance with aneleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an oblique elevation of the liquid container in accordancewith the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a liquid container in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a bottomwall 15, a peripheral wall 11 extending along the border of thehorizontal bottom wall 15, a tube wall 12 formed integral with theperipheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 15 and upwardly extended to thetopmost edge 10 of the peripheral wall 11, a water inlet 14 verticallycut through the bottom wall 15 and a suction hole 13 defined in the tubewall 12 in communication with the water inlet 14. According to thisfirst embodiment, the liquid container is made in the form of a watercup, i.e., the peripheral wall 11 and the horizontal bottom wall 15constitute a cup body. When drinking water or a fluid is filled in theholding space surrounded by the bottom wall 15 and peripheral wall 11 ofliquid container, the user can suck in the drinking water or fluid withthe mouse through the suction hole 13.

FIG. 4 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention. According to this secondembodiment, the liquid container comprises a bottom wall 15, aperipheral wall 11 extending along the border of the bottom wall 15, atube wall 12 vertically formed integral with the peripheral wall 11, asuction hole 13 defined in the tube wall 12, and a water inlet 14 incommunication between the bottom end of the suction hole 13 and theholding space surrounded by the bottom wall 15 and peripheral wall 11.Further, the topmost edge 13 of the tube wall 12 is higher than theelevation of the topmost edge of the peripheral wall 11. Further, thebottom wall 15 slopes downwardly to the water inlet 14 so that the usercan suck in the contained drinking water or fluid with the mouse throughthe suction hole 13 and the water inlet 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention. According to this third embodiment,the liquid container comprises a bottom wall 15, an peripheral wall 11extending along the border of the horizontal bottom wall 15, a tube wall12 formed integral with the peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 15and upwardly extended to an elevation below the topmost edge of theperipheral wall 11, a water inlet 14 vertically cut through the bottomwall 15 and a suction hole 13 defined in the tube wall 12 incommunication with the water inlet 14. According to this firstembodiment, the bottom wall 15 slopes radially from the border areathereof to the water inlet 14 so that the contained drinking water orfluid can be easily sucked by the user with the mouse through thesuction hole 13 and the water inlet 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the present invention. According to this fourthembodiment, the liquid container is made in the form of a standing cupin which the tube wall 12 is formed integral with the tapered peripheralwall 11 and extended to the topmost edge of the tapered peripheral wall11, and the water inlet 14 is located on the bottom end of the suctionhole 13 adjacent to the bottom wall 15 of the cup body of the standingcup.

FIG. 7 shows a liquid container in accordance with a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention. This fifth embodiment is substantially similar tothe aforesaid third embodiment with the exception that the peripheralwall 11 of this fifth embodiment is smoothly curved.

FIG. 8 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with a sixthembodiment of the present invention. This sixth embodiment issubstantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with theexception that this sixth embodiment has multiple tube walls 12 formedintegral with the peripheral wall 11 and equiangularly spaced from oneanother.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a liquid container in accordance with a seventhembodiment of the present invention. According to this seventhembodiment, the liquid container has a hollow handle 16 formed integralwith the peripheral wall 11 of the container body (cup body) of theliquid container. The hollow handle 16 defines therein a suction hole 17that extends through the peripheral wall 11 and terminating in a waterinlet 14 in communication with the holding space surrounded by thebottom wall 15 and peripheral wall 11. The hollow handle 16 has a topextension portion 161 suspending above the elevation of the topmost edge10 of the peripheral wall 11. The top end of the suction hole 17upwardly extends through the topmost edge of the top extension portion161.

FIG. 11 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with an eighthembodiment of the present invention. This eighth embodiment issubstantially similar to the aforesaid seventh embodiment with theexception that the liquid container of this eighth embodiment has twohollow handles 16 symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides.

FIG. 12 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with ninthembodiment of the present invention. This ninth embodiment issubstantially similar to the aforesaid seventh embodiment with theexception that the suction hole 17 extends to the bottom side of thebottom wall 15, and the water inlet 14 cut through the bottom wall 15 invertical communication between the suction hole 17 and the holding spacesurrounded by the peripheral wall 11 and bottom wall 15 of the containerbody (cup body) of the liquid container.

FIG. 13 illustrates a liquid container in accordance with tenthembodiment of the present invention. According to this tenth embodiment,the peripheral wall 11 of the container body (cup body) of the liquidcontainer has one side curved inwards, and a tubular handle 18 isconnected between the top and bottom ends of the inwardly curved side ofthe peripheral wall 11. The tubular handle 18 defines therein a suctionhole 19 that has its bottom end terminating in a water inlet 14 incommunication with the holding space surrounded by the peripheral wall11 and bottom wall 15 of the container body (cup body) of the liquidcontainer.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a liquid container in accordance with aneleventh embodiment of the present invention. According to this eleventhembodiment, the liquid container 2 is a bottle, comprising a bottle body21, a tubular wall 22 formed integral with the peripheral wall 211 ofthe bottle body 21 and vertically extending along the peripheral wall211 from the topmost edge 26 to an elevation in proximity to the bottomwall 25 of the bottle body 21, and a suction hole 23 defined in thetubular wall 22 and terminating in a bottom water inlet 24 in proximityto the e bottom wall 25 of the bottle body 21 and in communication withthe holding space surrounded by the bottle body 21. Further, the bottlebody 21 is covered with a cap 27. After removal of the cap 27 from thebottle body 21, the user can drink the contained liquid from the bottlebody 21 with the mouth through the suction hole 23.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A liquid container, comprising a container body formed of aperipheral wall and a bottom wall, a tubular wall formed integral withsaid peripheral wall, a suction hole defined in between said tubularwall and said peripheral wall, said suction hole having a top endextending to the topmost edge of said cup body and a bottom endextending to said bottom wall of said container body, and a water inletin communication between said suction hole and the holding spacesurrounded by said container body.
 2. A liquid container, comprising acontainer body formed of a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, at leastone handle formed integral with said peripheral wall, a suction holedefined in each of said at least one handle, and a water inlet incommunication between a bottom end of each said suction hole and theholding space surrounded by said container body.
 3. The liquid containeras claimed in claim 1, wherein the top end of said suction hole suspendsabove the elevation of the topmost edge of said container body.
 4. Theliquid container as claimed in claim 1, said tubular wall has thetopmost edge disposed below the elevation of the topmost edge of saidcontainer body.
 5. The liquid container as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe suction hole that is defined in each said handle extends verticallythrough the whole length of the respective handle.
 6. The liquidcontainer as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said suction hole has thetopmost end thereof extended to a selected part of the respectivehandle.
 7. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein saidwater inlet cut through said bottom wall of said container body.
 8. Theliquid container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said water inlet isdisposed in proximity to said bottom wall of said container body at aselected location.
 9. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein said water inlet is selectively formed of a single hole ormultiple small holes.
 10. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1 or2, wherein said bottom wall of said container body slopes downwards tosaid water inlet.
 11. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein each said suction hole has a circular cross section.
 12. Theliquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple tubular wallsare formed integral with the peripheral wall of said container body, andmultiple suction holes are respectively defined between the multipletubular walls and the peripheral wall of said container body incommunication with the holding space surrounded by said container bodythrough said water inlet.
 13. The liquid container as claimed in claim2, wherein multiple handles are formed integral with the peripheral wallof said container body, and multiple suction holes are respectivelydefined in said multiple handles in communication with the holding spacesurrounded by said container body through said water inlet.
 14. Theliquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container body issmoothly curved.
 15. The liquid container as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid handle is smoothly curved.
 16. The liquid container as claimed inclaim 1 or 2, wherein said container body is shaped like a cup.
 17. Theliquid container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said container bodyis shaped like a bottle.